Hair Roller

ABSTRACT

A hair roller is described. The hair roller includes a sleeve of fabric and a cylindrically-shaped piece of foam positioned within the sleeve of fabric. A tie is positioned at each end of the piece of foam to secure the foam within the sleeve. Two flaps extend from the ties. Velcro is attached with each of the two flaps. Thus, using the present invention, a user can roll their hair within the hair roller and use the flaps to secure the hair roller in place.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a non-provisional application of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/589,687, filed on Jan. 23, 2012, entitled, “Hair Roller.”

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a hair roller and, more specifically, to a hair roller that is used to roll and bind a user's hair.

(2) Description of Related Art

Hair rollers have long been known in the art. Existing hair rollers, while operable for curling a user's hair, are often uncomfortable and undesirable for prolonged usage. For example, many existing hair rollers use crimping clasps, metal hair pins, or have hinge mechanisms and/or exposed foam that can catch the user's hair. As can be appreciated, having hair caught or pulled by a hinge or foam can be an uncomfortable experience. Importantly, such abrasiveness can break and cut the user's hair.

Because of the fixed clasp or hinge mechanism, traditional hair rollers are made to be fixed with the user's hair in a predetermined manner. In other words, as a user rolls their hair onto the roller, the hinge mechanism does not allow the user to roll their hair to any desired position. Instead, the hinge mechanism has a fixed stop location such that hair can only be rolled onto the roller to a certain rolling position. As can be appreciated, a user may desire to roll any amount of hair onto the roller such that they are not confined to stopping the roll at a predetermined stop location.

Further, hair rollers are often worn while sleeping. Traditional hair rollers are made of hard plastic and, as such, can be difficult to sleep with.

Thus, a continuing need exists for a hair roller that is comfortable to wear while sleeping and operable for curling the user's hair to any rolling location, yet does not catch or pull upon the user's hair while being worn.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

While considering the failure of others to make use of all of the above components in this technology space, the inventor unexpectedly realized that a foam roller that is sewn into a fabric sleeve, with extra cloth tie flaps would allow a user to comfortably curl their hair while avoiding the uncomfortable features of existing rollers. Thus, the present invention is directed to a hair roller includes a sleeve of fabric and a cylindrically-shaped piece of foam positioned within the sleeve of fabric. A tie is positioned at each end of the piece of foam to secure the foam within the sleeve. Two flaps extend from the ties. A fastener (such as non-snag Velcro) is attached with each of the two flaps. Therefore, using the present invention, a user can roll their hair within the hair roller and use the flaps to secure the hair roller in place.

Finally, as can be appreciated by one in the art, the present invention also comprises a method for forming and using the invention described herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed descriptions of the various aspects of the invention in conjunction with reference to the following drawings, where:

FIG. 1A is an illustration depicting a process for forming a hair roller according to the present invention, showing the hair roller in an un-assembled form as an unrolled fabric;

FIG. 1B is an illustration depicting a process for forming a hair roller according to the present invention, showing the fabric being rolled and attached to form a fabric sleeve;

FIG. 1C is an illustration depicting a process for forming a hair roller according to the present invention, showing a filler being positioned within the fabric sleeve;

FIG. 1D is an illustration depicting a process for forming a hair roller according to the present invention, showing ends of the fabric sleeve being sewn shut;

FIG. 1E is an illustration depicting a process for forming a hair roller according to the present invention, showing the fabric sleeve being tied at each end of the filler;

FIG. 2A is an illustration depicting the use of the hair roller according to the present invention, showing the roller being placed against a user's hair;

FIG. 2B is an illustration depicting the use of the hair roller according to the present invention, showing hair being rolled around the roller;

FIG. 2C is an illustration depicting the use of the hair roller according to the present invention, showing hair being rolled around the roller to the desired position; and

FIG. 2D is an illustration depicting the use of the hair roller according to the present invention, showing two flaps of the hair roller being attached with one another to affix the hair roller at the desired position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a hair roller and, more specifically, to a hair roller that is used to roll and bind a user's hair. The following description is presented to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention and to incorporate it in the context of particular applications. Various modifications, as well as a variety of uses in different applications will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to a wide range of embodiments. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments presented, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without necessarily being limited to these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form, rather than in detail, in order to avoid obscuring the present invention.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with this specification and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference. All the features disclosed in this specification, (including any accompanying claims, abstract, and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is only one example of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

Furthermore, any element in a claim that does not explicitly state “means for” performing a specified function, or “step for” performing a specific function, is not to be interpreted as a “means” or “step” clause as specified in 35 U.S.C. Section 112, Paragraph 6. In particular, the use of “step of” or “act of” in the claims herein is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112, Paragraph 6.

Please note, if used, the labels left, right, front, back, top, bottom, forward, reverse, clockwise and counter clockwise have been used for convenience purposes only and are not intended to imply any particular fixed direction. Instead, they are used to reflect relative locations and/or directions between various portions of an object.

(1) Description

The present invention relates to a hair roller 100. More specifically and as depicted in FIGS. 1A through 1E, the present invention is a hair roller 100 that includes a piece of material 102 that is formed as a sleeve 114 with a filler 108 that holds the shape of the hair roller 100. As a non-limiting example, the material 102 may be cloth, plastic, or fabric.

FIGS. 1A through 1E depict a non-limiting example of a method for producing the hair roller 100. As shown in FIG. 1A, the material 102 is a flexible sheet-like material. As a non-limiting example, it may be originally formed in a rectangular shape. Fasteners 106 are located at the far ends of the material 102. As a non-limiting example, the fasteners 106 may be hook and loop fasteners (e.g., Velcro) or another type of fastener (e.g., non-snag Velcro, etc.). In the end product (as depicted in FIG. 1E), the fasteners 106 are attached with each of the flaps 112A and 112B.

As shown in FIG. 1B, the material 102 is rolled longitudinally wherein the ends are sewn 104 together, thus creating a sleeve 114. Also depicted are the fasteners 106 at the opposite ends of the sleeve 114. A filler 108 is inserted into the sleeve 114 creating a shape for the hair roller 100. The filler 108 is any suitably flexible material that provides a shape for the hair roller 100. Non-limiting examples a suitable filler 108 material include foam, rubber, silicone, an air bag, and polyurethane. Any suitable type of pliant material can be used, a non-limiting example of which includes polyethylene foam having a density of 1.6. Additionally, the foam is of any suitable size and shape. As a non-limiting example, the cylindrically-shaped piece of foam is 2½ inches long with a diameter of 1 inch.

As shown in FIG. 1C, the filler 108 is positioned inside the sleeve 114. The filler 108 creates the desired shape of the hair roller 100. As a non-limiting example, the filler 108 may be a cylindrically-shaped or triangularly-shaped piece of foam to create a cylindrical hair roller or a triangular hair roller, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 1D, after the filler 108 is positioned within the sleeve 114, the ends of the sleeve 114 can be sewn 104 shut (or otherwise seals using any other technique) to encase the filler 108 within the sleeve.

As shown in FIG. 1E, once the filler 108 is inserted into the sleeve 114, a binder 110 is wrapped around each end of the edges of the filler 108. Each binder 110 holds the filler 108 in place at opposite ends of the sleeve 114. As a non-limiting example, the binder 110 may be a tie or wrap made up of cloth, thread, rubber bands, or nylon. The binder 110 is affixed around the sleeve 114 at each end of the filler 108 to sandwich the filler 108 therebetween. Once tied or wrapped, flaps 112A and 112B are formed that extend from the filler 108 on each side of the hair roller 100.

As noted above, the prior art uses fixed clasps or hinge mechanisms that allow a user to roll hair onto the roller to a fixed stop location. The present invention improves upon the prior art by allowing a user to roll any desired amount of hair onto the roller 100 and stop the roller 100 at any desired location. In doing so, the flaps 112A and 112B are rotatable. More specifically and as illustrated in FIGS. 2A through 2D, because the flaps 112A and 112B are made of a pliant material 102 (e.g., cloth), the flaps 112A and 112B can rotate (i.e., be twisted) about the binder 110 to allow a user roll hair onto the roller 100 and stop the roller 100 at any desired location, with one flap 112A then rotating to attach with the corresponding flap 112B on the other side of the roller 100. The flaps 112A and 112B are any suitable length. As a non-limiting example as depicted throughout the figures, they are sufficiently long to allow them to fold over and overlap one another to allow the fasteners to attach with one another.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the hair roller 100 is placed against the user's hair to start the process of rolling the hair. The flaps 112A and 112B are located at the opposite ends of the roller 100.

As shown in FIG. 2B, hair can then be rolled around the hair roller 100. However and also as depicted, the flaps 112A and 112B are still exposed at the opposite ends of the roller 100 which later allows the fasteners to attach to one another.

As shown in FIG. 2C, the hair is rolled to the desired length. Unlike previous art where the roller is rolled to a predetermined position, the present invention allows the user to roll the hair roller 100 to any desired position along the user's strand of hair. As a non-limiting example, the roller 100 may be rolled only a half rotation to create minimal hair curls. As another non-limiting example, the roller 100 may be rolled the full length of hair thus creating maximum hair curls. The user determines how many rotations (or semi-rotations) of the hair roller 100 he/she desires.

As shown in FIG. 2D, once the user rolls the hair roller 100 and hair to the desired position, he/she fastens the hair roller 100 by attaching flaps 112A and 112B together and, thus, preventing the hair roller 100 and hair from unraveling. The flaps 112A and 112B have fasteners that attach to each other and hold the hair roller in place. In summary and as can be appreciated by those skilled in the art, a user can roll their hair around the filler portion of the hair roller 100 and, thereafter, use the flaps 112A and B to secure the hair roller 100 in place. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A hair roller, comprising: a sleeve; a filler positioned within the sleeve; a binder affixing the filler within the sleeve to form two flaps; and fasteners attached with each of the two flaps, thereby allowing a user to roll their hair around hair roller and use the flaps to secure the hair roller in place.
 2. The hair roller as set forth in claim 1, wherein the sleeve material is a piece of cloth.
 3. The hair roller as set forth in claim 2, wherein the filler is cylindrically-shaped piece of foam.
 4. The hair roller as set forth in claim 3, wherein the binder is tie positioned at each end of the piece of foam to secure the foam within the sleeve.
 5. The hair roller as set forth in claim 4, wherein the fasteners are hook and loop fasteners.
 6. The hair roller as set forth in claim 1, wherein the filler is cylindrically-shaped piece of foam.
 7. The hair roller as set forth in claim 1, wherein the binder is tie positioned at each end of the piece of foam to secure the foam within the sleeve.
 8. The hair roller as set forth in claim 1, wherein the fasteners are hook and loop fasteners.
 9. A method for forming a hair roller, the method comprising acts of: forming a sleeve; positioning a filler within the sleeve; affixing the filler within the sleeve using a binder to form two flaps, where each of the two flaps have a fastener attached thereto, thereby allowing a user to roll their hair around hair roller and use the flaps to secure the hair roller in place. 